Device for pumping out floats



Jan. 2, 1951 J. v. THOMAS 2,536,475

DEVICE FOR PUMPING OUT FLOATS Filed April 2, 1947 9 f 12 0 Q f 5 L9 0:0: 1 0

mm'" II ""I .J I INVENTDR. W lfoifima/a/ l n BY fi @ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

DEVICE FOR PUMPING OUT FLOATS John V. Thomas, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 2, 1947, Serial No. 738,963

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a device for pumping floats or floating docks in tidal waters. Most floating docks are constructed of wooden tanks and these tanks always leak or sweat, so as to partially fill the interior of the float. The result is that they must be periodically pumped dry. The water on the interior soaks into the wood, increasing the weight of the float, necessitating larger floats to support the same load. It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a device operated by the motion of the tide to pump the water from the interior of a floating dock and to keep the same empty.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments therein.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially sectioned;

Figure 2 is a cross-section, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, an ordinary wooden float dock is represented, which has wooden floats 2 for supporting the same above the surface of the water 3. A concrete pillar 4, embedded in the floor 5 of the body of water 3, maintains the floating dock I in position by means of rollers 6, attached to the floating dock I. These rollers 6 allow the dock to move up and down upon the pillar 4, but prevent lateral movement.

Attached to the pillar 4 is a static line I of rope, cable, or other suitable material, which is anchored to the floor 5 by a weight 8. The static line I is held in a taut condition by the weight 8, but it makes several loops, as shown at 9, around a Windlass Ii). The Windlass II] is rotatably journalled upon the floating dock I and has thereon an off-center crank I I, to which is fastened a crank arm I2. The crank arm I 2 is connected to the piston rod I3 of an ordinary diaphragm pump I4. The diaphragm pump I4 has a pipe I5 extending from the pump to the interior of the floats 2, with a check valve I6 positioned at any point in the pipe I5. This check valve I'5 is of a type which will allow a flow of fluid from the float 2 to the interior of the diaphragm pump I4, but will close itself and block any flow immediately upon the application of any pressure tending to force liquid from the diaphragm pump I4 to the floatZ. Another pipe I1 is connected to the top of the fluid pump I4 and opens into the water 3 at any desirable position. In this pipe I I is a second check valve I8, which is open when there is pressure in the pipe II from the pump I4,

but which is immediately closed upon any back pressure.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the floating dock I rises and falls with the tide, the static line I will cause the Windlass Hi to rotate, causing an up-and-down movement of the diaphragm I9 of the diaphragm pump I4. The static line I will cause the Windlass ID to rotate and on the downward stroke of the diaphragm I9, a suction will be placed on the pipe I 5, sucking water from the bottom of the float 2'. After the crank I2 has passed the center position, upon its movement around the Windlass I0, the diaphragm I9 will then move upwardly, causing a back pressure in the pipe I5, closing the check valve I6 and the water previously sucked from the float will be forced outwardly through the pipe I 'I and into the water 3. Further movement of the Windlass I0 will reverse the stroke, causing a suction on the check valve I8, closing the same, and a suction on the check valve 16, opening the same.

One of the features of my invention is that, by the use of a rotating drum, such as the Windlass I0 to operate the diaphragm pump I4, a plurality of pumping strokes is given to the pump during each rise and each fall of the tide.

In Figure 3, is shown a modification of my invention. In this device, the static line 1 is not used; but a drum, such as 20, is journalled upon a hanger 2I, attached to the floating clock I, a spring 22 places a tension upon the drum 20,

causing the exterior surface of the same to engage the pillar 4, thus the rise and fall of the tide will cause the drum 20 to be rotated by its friction with the static pillar 4. This drum 20 is connected by the same cranks as the Windlass It to the diaphragm pump I4.

One of the main features of my invention is to provide a device which will cause the pump I4 to make several strokes to each rise and fall of the tide and. any device, aflixed in position against which a drum or static line is used,

- would accomplish this multiple-stroke action.

, only, a rotatable drum having a crank mounted REFERENCES CITED thereon ofi center to the rotatmn of Bald drum The following references are of record in the said crank being connected to said piston of said me of this patent: pump, and an anchored static line wound around a said drum, said pump being rigidly aiiixed to the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS float whereby the rise and fall of said float due to Number Name Date the action of the tide upon said float will cause 242,233 Swales May 31, 1881 said static line to rotate said drum and actuate 817,318 Hazel Apr. 10, 1906 said pump. 974,282 Brum NOV. 7, 1910 10 1,403,702 Melvin Jan. 1'7, 1922 JOHN v. THOMAS. 1,589,403 Krause June 22, 1926 

